Ava

“Ava, sweetheart, if you can’t find your bathing suit, just wait until we get there, and I’ll get you another one.” I leaned against the door frame and looked at Ava, crossing my arms over my chest, eyes following her as Ava flitted back and forth around the room, her hair in disarray and falling into her face, brow furrowed in aggravated concentration.
“Elijah, it was my favorite one!” she pouted, flinging clothes aside as she dug in her dresser drawers. “It was black with sequins, and it was charming. And expensive.”
“I will buy you another cute black one,” I promised, grabbing the first suitcase she’d packed. “Even one with sequins, you beautiful thing.”
Ava looked up at me, her bottom lip out in a pout, but she finally forfeited, yanking an enormous straw sunhat down over her ears as she smiled, red creeping to her cheeks. God, she was equal parts adorable and stunning at the same time.
“Are you ready?” I asked, restraining the overwhelming urge I had to rip her clothes from her body and take her right there in the middle of the bedroom. Ava ran a hand through her hair and grinned. She was makeup-free today, and those stunning freckles stood out prominently against her skin.
“I’m ready,” she said, striking a pose as I looked her up and down. She was so excited about Costa Rica that she was already dressed in a tie-dye skirt and a black, shimmery tank top. The outfit was completed with that silly sunhat and a pair of drugstore flip-flops that she adored too much to throw away, despite my offer to buy her as many fancy shoes as her heart desired. She smelled of coconut sunblock and the sea salt spray that she’d spritzed in her hair, and the cheap sunglasses she wore were the cherry on top of the pie of perfection.
“You realize the flight is seven hours long,” I pointed out, but Ava looked too excited to care. “You can dress down if you’d like until we arrive.”
With a huff, Ava stuffed a disposable camera into her bag and straightened up, her hands propped on those beautiful, curvy hips.
“We’re going to Costa Rica,” she said, and I half expected her to jump up and down with glee. “I don’t care how long it takes. I’m ready.”
“Well, then, after you, my lady.” I grinned despite myself. With Ava, I found that happening more and more often.
Ava giggled. “No royal ladies here. I’d rather be a knight.”
“Then a knight you shall be.”
We locked up her apartment behind us, and she took her bag from me, insisting she carried it herself. One thing I’d come to find about Ava was her determination to be independent. It was a startling change from the other women I’d dated, and while it impressed me, it was occasionally challenging to tolerate. I wanted nothing more than to please this beautiful woman with everything I had to offer. She didn’t always make it easy, but she did force me to take notice.
“Hi, Malcolm! We’re going to Costa Rica!” Ava said gleefully, greeting him on the sidewalk with a bear hug that completely caught the older man off guard. As she released him, he turned to open the trunk for us, and I saw the slight grin on his face. Malcolm wasn’t a big fan of people in general, but it seemed that even Ava had lured him to the good side. She was almost dancing where she stood as she dropped her bag into the trunk. Malcolm and I exchanged an amused look as Ava slid into the limo, tapping her foot anxiously as she stared expectantly at us through the open door.
“Does she know the flight is almost eight hours long?” Malcolm asked quietly, rearranging the luggage in the trunk. “She’s like a child on their birthday.”
I met Ava’s gaze, and she smiled shyly before looking away, twirling a strand of long hair around one finger as something in her lap distracted her. I desperately wanted to hug her tight and never let go, kiss her until our lips were raw with lust. I yearned for every inch of her at every moment.
“She knows,” I said. “She just doesn’t care.”